Grand Teuton Linguistic Musings #1
What is an adverb?
Adverbs, like Adjectives, are words used to modify other words.
In the case of Adjectives, they modify only nouns.
All other words are modified by Adverbs.
Can you give an example?
You're bloody right I can.
That was an example, in case you didn't notice.
In that sentence, bloody is used as an adverb, while in other contexts it can be used as an adjective.  One of the confusions among students of grammar is that the classification of a given word can differ, based upon its use.
What?
I thought you'd never ask.
Think of that same word, "bloody," in another context:
That is one bloody wound.
There, "bloody" is used as an adjective, simply modifying the noun "wound."
If we were in England, we might hear someone say:
That is one bloody vicious rabbit.
Note that there is no comma between "bloody" and "vicious," indicating that they are not serial adjectives, both modifying the noun, "rabbit."  Thus, "bloody" in this context is acting as an adverb, and actually modifies the adjective. "vicious."
Oh
I thought you'd see it my way.  Just remember that there are many other, less family-friendly modifiers which could be used in just the same way!
Happy Modifying!
Last Update: 30 May 2002